John 6:56 – Oneness With Christ

John 6:56
⁵⁶ He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in Him.

Here is another tough statement that the disciples and Jews didn’t fully understand. Eating flesh and drinking Jesus’ blood? Sounds like a strange religion. Again, we need to understand the context as well as what Jesus meant.

Recall from an earlier passage we looked at in verse 57 that Jesus was speaking to the Jews, including His disciples. Many didn’t believe that He was God’s Son. The Jewish religious leaders were not only intimidated by Him I think, but they were offended that He would put Himself on the same level with God. Now Jesus is telling them that unless they partake of His flesh and blood, they don’t live in Him.

Up to the point of Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection, God had not dwelt IN man. He would come upon many at various times, but it wasn’t an ongoing dwelling relationship. God would work through men and women (prophets), yet they were still under the Old Covenant and limited.

Jesus wanted the religious leaders and people to have the picture of what God was providing to them through His Body and His Blood. They knew through the blood of bulls and goats their sins were forgiven and that each year their sins were cleansed; but the same requirements needed to be met each year.

Jesus came to show a more excellent way—God’s way of provision, restoration, salvation, and so much more. Because of Jesus offering His body in your place and my place, He took on Himself our sins—everything. He gave His blood as the ransom, the payment for our sins and trespasses. Only through this avenue could we truly know what it is like for Him to live in us, as He was in the Father.

You and I have been made one with our Jesus and Savior, Jesus Christ. Now the God of Heaven dwells within us in His fullness. The Holy Spirit is available 24/7 to reveal God’s Word, to teach us, to fill us with God’s presence. The mystery that had been hidden is now made known:  Christ IN you—your hope of glory. Rejoice today that God’s presence resides IN you and you are IN Him.